2 Flashcards
copper
metal
efficient conductor
electrons move easily between copper atoms but in all directions
conventional current
created by benjamin franklin
believed positively charged objects contained more of a mysterious material and had to flow from the object to something else
positive to negative
electron flow
discovered by joseph thompson
named the electron
discovered electrons flow from negative to positive
alternating current in transmission lines
AC current is efficient for long distance transport
voltage is increased and current decreased to reduce energy loss due to resistance in long transmission lines
DC application
DC is mostly used for electronics
easier to control
allows circuits to be smaller/more compact
rectifier
converts AC to DC
inverter
converts DC to AC
ammeter
measures the flow of current in amps
fuse
tube with a wire running through it rated to handle a certain amount of current
fuse blows/breaks when the wire exceeds it current/thermal limit
circuit breaker
switch
opens to break a circuit when too much current passes through it (in overload/short circuit scenario)
overload protection
circuit breaker switches to protect the circuit when too much load is put on it
short circuit protection
circuit is shortened thus current dramatically increases
breaker switches to cut power and protect the circuit
GFCI/RCD
ground default circuit interrupter/residual current device
monitor/compare current in supply and return wires for a circuit (must be equal/cuts power otherwise)
